Barbie Family House #21646 (1998)

by Barbie

Product Features

• Opens into countr kitchen with play pieces

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 14 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B00000ISVU
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #569,647 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)

Product Description

Editorial Review

The only thing that's not included in the Barbie Family House is... Barbie. It's otherwise all-inclusive, and comes right out of an episode of Martha Stewart Living. It's a relatively large, pastel-colored house with an imitation tile roof, large bay windows, and a trellis here and there. Its design is extremely efficient--for instance, swing open one side and there's an attractive patio/deck area. Turn the main wall to one side and create a kitchen, complete with country fixtures and cooking utensils (cookie tray, plates, glasses, and a pan with lid). Drop a wall and you have a second bathroom or bedroom. There's plenty of storage space, perhaps for all those high heels Barbie wears, or for visiting relatives and friends (for she has many, naturally). Amenities include a real mirror, a chair, a vase, clothes hangers, cookware, and silverware. The microwave oven beeps. The telephone rings. The radio plays a real tune.

If little Kelly is part of your collection, there's a crib and baby chair for her in this house. And, if Barbie's sisters will be living there, there's a bunk bed and a computer at a desk. Pull down another wall to create a sitting room with table and benches. The Barbie Family House comes with a two-year warranty, valid only in the U.S. It requires three AA batteries (not included), and adult assistance to construct, but the entire process only takes about 20 minutes. Most of the construction time comes from placing "home décor" stickers in the appropriate places--sort of like wallpapering the place. The basic house comes completely assembled, and instructions come inside the box to cover details. --Diane Beall

Product Description

This play house has the Good Housekeeping Seal. Each room has a magical surprise -- lift up a bed cover and it turns into a tub with "shower", door swings open to pretty patio, turn wall and a beautiful country kitchen appears, turn wall again and there is a cool bedroom for Barbie's 3 sisters, "radio" really plays a tune. Additional features include: furnished kitchen with play cooking and serving pieces, pull-down table and benchseat, pull down bunk beds and a cradle for Kelly, "computer with pull-out keyboard, a telephone that rings, a microwave that beeps. Lots of accessories.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars New Barbie Family House, December 26, 1999

By A Customer

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:3.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:3.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Barbie Family House #21646 (1998) (Toy)

Another little marvel of plastic engineering and design, the Barbie Family House is a fun and much improved update of the products of the same name in 1968 and 1978(?). This new house is made to last, if carefully played with, and unlike its earlier vinyl counterparts, could be stored and still look like new years from now. In keeping with the history of this product, the size is modest offering limited defined play area within the house, but, presents a space saving alternative to the "full-sized" Barbie houses and is quickly and easily folded up and moved. It's a little shy on colored decorating decals, and the kitchen/dining table is really too small to seat two dolls at with plates and utensils. It's perfect if Barbie is a single mother with a little Kelly or Tommy to raise in the house as she/he gets their own swing around high chair built onto the table (removable.) Also, uniquely, this house's litte built-in kitchen comes with a refrigerator, something neither the Folding Pretty House of 1997 nor the Fold N' Fun House of the late 80's could say. Unfortunately, as always, the scale is too small to accommodate the slightly larger Ken dolls comfortably, and, while the house has some neat features, the built-in computer is useless as there is no way to get Barbie's legs out of the way so she can actually get to, sit in front of and use the keyboard. Some folks might be relieved at the house's unusual (for Barbie) blue and cream colors. I think Mattel should have brought it out two available colors, the other being Barbie pink and cream. There's a lot to be said for consistency, especially to collectors who might find themselves uncomfortable with the blue house displayed among all the normal pink houses, accessories and dresses. We like it, accepting it for the product it is and appreciating its quality of design and manufacture. It does exactly what this model of Barbie house has always done; present an affordable and smaller alternative to the larger houses with plenty of eye-appeal to sweeten the deal.

56 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New version of classic Barbie's house!, November 22, 1999

By A Customer

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Barbie Family House #21646 (1998) (Toy)

This is the new version of the 1968 Barbie's Family House. I was given the original when I was 11 and now at the age of 43, my neices play with it. It has lasted 31 years and is still in pretty good shape considering. I'm ready for an upgrade, and bought this for the new generation of Barbie lovers in our family!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Happy Mom, December 30, 1999

By A Customer

= Durability:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Barbie Family House #21646 (1998) (Toy)

My daughter has spent countless hours playing and all the parts are still intact not only that but it came fully assembled! Talk about a relief. I Recommend this toy its well worth the price!